out west to AZ

[FOXXNTROUT]

moving to AZ. I am a blueline hunter so this is going to be really wild to be out there without any green trees.

What is your camo pattern of choice?

what is it like to hunt the west?

Seems the licenses are pretty high compared to SC. Is the DNR on its own with regard to funding?

Any tree stand hunting? Haven't seen many trees out there.

I order 90% of my stuff for hunting online, but are there any shops in Tuscon?


Thanks all.

[jarhead_hunter]

If you want trees in AZ just go to the mountains. We have lotsa mountains and bunch of trees.

License fees are what they are, I don't think they are very high....

There is a pretty good shop in Tucson with some Trad stuff. It is called Bull Basin Archery on South Craycroft. Good people there and they listen.

I don't do much on the camo stuff, I have a couple of sets of olive drab uniforms that I bought on active duty, use good woodcraft skills and look a lot more than I move.

It has worked for me for a long time.

Good luck.

Charles.

[highcountry]

Hurry!! We have a way cool 3D shoot in the cool pines this week-end. Don't worry about the camo, you can sneak right up to the animals(foam one that is!). We have all types of country, so you will end up with every kind of cam pattern. Desert to above timberline. Good luck out here, been told Tucson is a good place to live. Way too hot for me.

[Wampus]

If you're interested in cool knives or the art/craft of bladesmithing, you've got Tai Goo out there.   http://www.taigooknives.com/artist.shtml

[USAFdad]

Like Jarhead said, head to the mountains north or south, if I'm not mistaken we have the largest ponderosa pine forest on the continent in AZ. So if you want trees we got em. I'm with highcountry on that too hot thing.  I thought I would be out of the area this weekend, but maybe not now. Is that shoot in Flag you're talking about highcountry? Saw a flier but can't remember (old age I guess).

[USAFdad]

As for that camo thing I've got a bunch of types but am leaning towards going with just ASAT for everything.

[highcountry]

The shoot is at Clint's Wells by Happy Jack, off Hwy 87. End of Lake Mary RD and the one that runs north out of Payson. Late but me and the boy are headed out now to pitch a tent. Hope the elk don't run in front of the truck!!
Foxxntrout, Black Swan is down in Tucson.  Couple hours and you can get out of the heat in the summer. And in the winter head up and play in the snow.

[Brett Wilmore]

Hi Foxxntrout!  Come meet some of Tucson's trad archers and bowhunters on Wednesday nights at Robinsons Archery, E Tucson on Broadway and Sarnoff.  We do an indoor 3D shoot from about 06:30-08:30 pm.  Bring six arrows.

[bsoper]

I am in southern utah, which is a desert just like Arizona, and I use True Timber MC2 camo and realtree advatage max-1. Both are light brown/tan and covered in sage brush.

[TLANE]

My wife is from Tucson, we actually just got married there back in April.  I really liked that area, rabbit hunting would be a blast!  Northern AZ is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen!   I can't wait to go back to visit!

[FOXXNTROUT]

Will be out in June for a rental hunt. Should be there around July or August.

Trees like Oaks and other hardwoods. Dense jungle like brush and can't see anything but tuffs of hair or some eyes looking.

Fees are a great deal higher by about $100 or so. Lots of draws there. We just draw for areas and gators.

Should be interesting for a few years.

[Stoutstuff]

The high country is desirable for about the next 4 months!!!

[FOXXNTROUT]

So with this fire raging...how bad will the hunting be this year?

I would imagine new growth sprouting up, but your summers don't do much for water and growth?

[wbyrd]

That fire is a long ways from Tucson and isn't very easy to access. From Tucson you're looking at about a six hour drive to get where it's burning. There is still a ton of area to hunt in AZ, you shouldn't have any issues with the fire. As far as the draw goes, you don't have to draw for archery deer (you do for a few certain areas). You can buy a tag otc that's good for pretty much the whole state and you've got about three months to fill it. Elk, antelope, javelina, spring turkey, and some bear hunts are all draw. If you haven't already, check out the AZ Game & Fish website, they've got the rules and regs online.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions. I'm no expert but I have a pretty good understanding of how things work out here.

[FOXXNTROUT]

After we come out in June I will have a better feel for the area. First priority for me is finding work and unloading boxes.